Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the proposal to provide a new school building (details supplied) in County Dublin; when this project is likely to proceed to the next stage; the likely timescale for the project to reach construction stage in view of the fact that it is not included in his recently published five year programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15803/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has an application with the Department for a major school project involving school refurbishment and the replacement of temporary accommodation. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including this project, is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie. Recent birth rate data, published by the CSO shows there were nearly 20,000 births registered in the first quarter of 2011. This is the highest number of births registered in a quarter since the series began in 1960. It is vital that the schooling system is prepared to cope with these increasing numbers. Therefore, the Government's priority is now to focus on major school projects to meet these demographic demands. In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects required to meet demographic demand will be the main focus for capital investment in the coming years. In the context of the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of additional school accommodation, it is not possible therefore to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of this school project at this time.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the proposal to provide a new school building (details supplied) in County Dublin; the stage of this particular project; the likely timescale for the project to reach construction stage in view of the fact that it is not included in his recently published five year programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15804/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet the demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The five year programme announced recently is focused on meeting those demographic needs. In that context, it was not possible to advance all applications for capital funding concurrently. The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The Stage 1 Submission (Site report/initial sketch scheme) has been received in my Department and is being examined. School building projects currently in architectural planning, including the project referred to by the Deputy, will continue to be advanced incrementally over time within the context of the funding available. However, in light of current competing demands on the Department's capital budget it is not possible, at this time, to indicate when this project will progress to tender and construction stage.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the stage of the proposed school building project for a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the likely timescale for the project to go to construction stage, as it is not included in his recently published five year programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15805/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet the demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The five year programme announced recently is focused on meeting those demographic needs. In that context, it was not possible to advance all applications for capital funding concurrently. The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The Design Team are currently working on the Stage 2a Submission (Developed Sketch Design). School building projects currently in architectural planning, including the project referred to by the Deputy, will continue to be advanced incrementally over time within the context of the funding available. However, in light of current competing demands on the Department's capital budget it is not possible, at this time, to indicate when this project will progress to tender and construction stage.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the stage of the proposed school building project for a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the likely timescale for the project to go to construction stage, as it is not included in his recently published five year programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15806/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet the demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The five year programme announced recently is focused on meeting those demographic needs. In that context, it was not possible to advance all applications for capital funding concurrently. The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The Design Team are currently working on the Stage 2a Submission (Developed Sketch Design). School building projects currently in architectural planning, including the project referred to by the Deputy, will continue to be advanced incrementally over time within the context of the funding available. However, in light of current competing demands on the Department's capital budget it is not possible, at this time, to indicate when this project will progress to tender and construction stage.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the stage of the proposed extension refurbishment project for a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; when the project will proceed to the next stage; the likely timescale for this project to go to construction stage, as it has not been included in his recently published five year programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15807/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet the demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The five year programme announced recently is focused on meeting those demographic needs. In that context, it was not possible to advance all applications for capital funding concurrently. The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The Design Team has recently been appointed and the Board of Management were authorised to commence Stage 1 (Premliminary Sketch Design). School building projects currently in architectural planning, including the project referred to by the Deputy, will continue to be advanced incrementally over time within the context of the funding available. However, in light of current competing demands on the Department's capital budget it is not possible, at this time, to indicate when this project will progress to tender and construction stage.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the stage of the proposed extension refurbishment of a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; when the project is likely to proceed to the next stage; the likely timescale for the project to go to construction stage as it has not been included in his recently published five year programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15808/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet the demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The five year programme announced recently is focused on meeting those demographic needs. In that context, it was not possible to advance all applications for capital funding concurrently.

The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The Design Team are currently working on the Stage 2a Submission (Developed Sketch Design).

School building projects currently in architectural planning, including the project referred to by the Deputy, will continue to be advanced incrementally over time within the context of the funding available.

However, in light of current competing demands on the Department's capital budget it is not possible, at this time, to indicate when this project will progress to tender and construction stage.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a school building project (details supplied) in County Monaghan will proceed to construction stage; the total investment by him in this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15809/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet the demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The five year programme announced recently is focused on meeting those demographic needs. In that context, it was not possible to advance all applications for capital funding concurrently.

The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The Design Team are currently working on Stage 2(b) of Architectural Planning which includes Planning Permission, Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate (DAC) and the preparation of tender documents.

School building projects currently in architectural planning, including the project referred to by the Deputy, will continue to be advanced incrementally over time within the context of the funding available.

However, in light of current competing demands on the Department's capital budget, it is not possible to progress this project to tender and construction at this time.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding funding for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and when the school can expect a start date for construction. [15862/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding to provide a new school building.

In accordance with the published criteria for large scale building projects, the project has been assigned a Band 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including this project, is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie.

In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects required to meet demographic demand will be the main focus for capital investment in the coming years. It is not possible, therefore, to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.